Movable bobbin transport apparatus

ABSTRACT

Bobbin transport apparatus movable along a textile machine front in a prescribed path for the conveyance of bobbins to be fed in and finished bobbins to be removed by means of an automatic bobbin changer in multi-station, multilevel textile machines.

United States Patent [1 1 Mayer July 22, 1975 MOVABLE BOBBIN TRANSPORT APPARATUS [56] References Cited [75] lnventor: Manfred Mayer, Remdcheid, UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany 2.726.505 12/1955 Bethune et a1 57/53 3.537.402 11/1970 Harkess 104/168 1 Asslgnefi Barmag Barmel' Maschmenfabrlk 3.721.081 3/1973 lshida 57/52 x Aktiensesellschaft, pp v 3.729.915 511973 Mayer et a1 57/53 Germany Primarv Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan 22 F1 d: M 10 1972 1 1e ay Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Johnston, Keil, Thompson [2 pp 252,309 & Shurtleff [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [5 7] ABSTRACT May 13 1971 Germany 2123689 Bobbin transport apparatus movable along a textile machine front in a prescribed path for the conveyance [52] U S Cl 214/41, 57/53 of bobbins to be fed in and finished bobbins to be re- [51] DOIh 9/10 moved by means of an automatic bobbin changer in [58] Fieid B 38 BA multi-station, multilevel textile machines.

214/38 BB, 41; 57/52, 53; 242/355 A; 19 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL 2 2 1975 SHEET PliTENTEDJUL22|s25 FIG.4

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PATENTED JUL 2 2 I975 SHEET MOVABLE BOBBIN TRANSPORT APPARATUS Textile machines, such as, for example, spinning machines, stretching machines, twisting or texturizing machines have large number, for example, I or more, individual treatment stations. The treatment stations are arranged not only on both sides of the machine but also in decks, one above another. The bobbin change can take place by means of an automatic bobbin changer in several stations simultaneously, and the stay or residence time for changeovers per station can be correspondingly shortened. The individual treatment stations are driven in normal operation at identical operation conditions. Especially in the treatment of polymer threads, it is necessary to attune the individual operating parameters, such as, for example, thread speed, thread tension, temperatures, heating arrangements optionally present, twisting, false twisting, etc., to one another exactly, in order to obtain an optimal product. In addition, for the treatment of polymer threads, the individual operating parameters must be maintained within narrow tolerances. Thereby each treatment station is extremely subject to breakdown and requires a continuous or regular, periodic monitoring of its proper functioning. This function monitoring can be managed, for one thing, by special technical arrangements, especially measuring and regulating systems. To an increasing degree, also, quality testing is used for the assurance and improvement of the quality of future produc tion as well as for the qualitative classification of the finished products. The ascertained quality of an end product or intermediate product provides a basis for judgment of the functioning of the treatment places in the production path.

With this goal of quality check, which can take place preferably also according to statistic processes, it is absolutely important that each product be followed as exactly as possible on the way through the textile plant from the input check of the raw material or intermediate product to the finished bobbin, and the results es tablished in the quality control (for example, thread strength, stretch, winding tension, breaking tension, twist, curl contraction, etc.) can at any time be clearly allocated to the working positions concerned in each case and to the pre-products fed to these, i.e., feed bobbin windings. Insofar as the textile machines are operated by hand, this allocation is accomplished by numbering each individual treatment station, and each (or only each to be checked) of the slipped-on feed bobbin or removed finished bobbins is correspondingly marked.

This procedure runs into difficulties with the hand operation of the textile machine, since it brings about time losses and can lead to faulty identifications. It is not applicable at all when the bobbin change and, in particular, the removal of the finished bobbins, is automated.

Bobbin transport devices for the conveyance to and away for textile machines operated by means of automatic bobbin changers have become known in many various forms. In these known devices, however, it was not possible to pursue either the origin of the feed bobbin fed to the textile machine, or in other zones of the textile mechanism, as, for example in the further processing and/or in the quality control, to determine in which treatment station of the textile machine a finished bobbin was processed. In German Pat. Application No. 1,510,620, a device for the fully automatic removal of full tubes on continuous spinning and twisting machines lets the drawn-off cops or windings slide over a chute onto a conveyor belt. It permits no allocation of the cops to their treatment places, since in the case of non-discharge of a cop, the corresponding place on the conveyor belt and in the storer is occupied by the cop coming from the next place. Moreover, the problem of allocation of the finished bobbins to their treatment places arises not only in the bringing of the bobbins onto the conveyor belt, but, to an increased degree, also in the removal from the conveyor belt. Here the finished bobbins--as, for example, US. Pat. No. 3,534,539 teaches--are to be conveyed into a transport means (for example, a movable container), where they are deposited in disorder. In another conveying arrangement, U.S. Pat. No. 3,070,949, the finished bobbins are taken off by an automatic bobbin changer, in which system the bobbin changer deposits the bobbins directly in a container that is carried along. Here, too, it is not possible to determine in which treatment place a bobbin lying in the conveyance container has been processed. Known systems for the supplying of feed bobbins, which have become known, for example, through US. Pat. No. 3,534,539 and German Pat. No. 1,929,961, fail to meet the requirement that the path of the feed bobbin should be and remain possible to follow, since these systems are charged with bobbins de posited in a random manner in transport containers.

It is the objective of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of the known bobbin transport devices and to create bobbin transport devices of the type presented at the outset, in which the allocation of the finished bobbins to their treatment stations, and preferably also to their preproduct and its treatment stations, remains preserved in a clear manner after the removal of the bobbins from their spindles or winding devices, their conveyance from the machine, in the further processing and in the quality control, sorting and/or other handling.

For this purpose it is proposed that the transport device have arrangements for the reception of the bobbins, which are geometrically allocated to one another in the same manner as the bobbin locations of the textile machine. The arrangement of the devices for the reception of the bobbins can be congruent or similar to the arrangement of the winding heads on the textile machine. Differing dimensions and also slightly differing arrangements do not play any role, as long as to each winding head there is clearly and unambiguously allocated a bobbin receiving unit. For the clear stressing of thisallocation it can, in particular, he expedient also to arrange the receiving devices in zones which correspond to the zones of the winding heads. This arrangement and disposition of the bobbins traversed by the transport device of the invention makes it possible, by means of automatic bobbin changers, to feed to each treatment station of the textile machine a feed bobbin of a certain charge, qualification, origin, property, etc. and still to determine the origin of the finished bobbin even after removal and conveyance away from the textile machine.

In one form, the bobbin transport device is a vertical lattice which extends preferably over the entire length of the machine. According to another form, the bobbin transport device consists of a series of adjustably suspended rods, coupled to one another. They are provided with holding devices for bobbins slipped on the free end and have differing lengths allocated in each case to a deck of winding positions.

The process of the depositing of bobbins on the transport device can be carried out by hand. The device is movable along the floor and can be provided with wheels swingable in all directions.

An especially advantageous form which makes it possible to displace the bobbin transport device in prescribed paths and automatically. consists in a device which is displaceable on or in rails. These rails can be arranged for standing or suspended transport of the bobbin transport device which can be shifted in common manually with a chain, a rope or similar endless band continuous running drive means, to which the bobbin transport device is connected. According to another form of the invention, the device is characterized by a power drive for moving the device. The advantage of this form lies in that constantly running drive means,

which can be spatially troublesome and which in running unconnected, waste energy requirement and induce wear, are rendered unnecessary. Advantageously this bobbin transport device is equipped in such a way that it is arranged for suspended transport in the rails provided for a blowing or suction installation. There is yielded the further problem of forming the bobbin transport device in such a way that it is movable with small expenditure of space, in particular so that it can be driven through relatively close turns and in relatively close space. For this, the bobbin transport device consists of several members in series in the longitudinal direction. These members can be connected with one another by means of releasable couplings. The individual members can correspond according to their length and according to the number of bobbins deposited on them, each to a zone of processing stations.

The division of the bobbin transport device into a series of members permits a very advantageous transport device. In this form, the bobbin transport device is characterized by a transport container which is displaceable perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the machine and is positionable in front of the head of the textile machine. It has guide and receiving arrangements into which the individual members of the bobbin transport device are slidable in a defined sequence, preferably in the sequence of the treatment stations. In the loading of such a transport container, it, after loading of one member, is driven onward by approximately one width of the bobbin transport device, and thereupon the next member is ready for loading.

In order to make unnecessary a manual operation of the couplings between the individual members of the bobbin transport device, various forms for couplings are proposed. Preferred couplings are those which can absorb only such forces as run substantially in the longitudinal axis of the bobbin transport device and which can be uncoupled by movement of the members transversely to the longitudinal axis of the bobbin transport device.

In this preferred embodiment of the invention, there is the further problem of automating the introduction of the bobbin transport device into the transport conntainer. For this it is proposed that the transport container have a drive for the stepwise displacement as well as switching devices which are arranged in the Zone of the guide and receiving arrangements and are operated by entry of each individual member into the transport container. Further, there is proposed a stationary drive mounted in the zone of the textile machine for the further transport of the bobbin transport device, in which system this drive can be a friction drive. Finally, for the purpose of automating the introduction process, there is proposed a switching device interacting with the transport container, over which the drive for the further transport of the bobbin transport device can be set in operation by standstill of the transport container and can be set out of operationby movement of the transport container. Such a switching device can consist, for example, of a simple pressure switch which is operated by cams or the like fastened to the transport container and over whose output signal the drive for the further transport of the bobbin trans port device is set in operation and .out of operation.

Through this combination of measures which are usable also individually and which, eachby itself, still leads to a facilitation in the shifting of the bobbin transport system, it becomespossible, in alternating rhythm, to slide in the individual members of the bobbin transport device, with transport container at a standstill, into the latter and, with the bobbin transport device at a standstill, to move the transportcontainer one prescribed step onward automatically. For the loading of the bobbin transport device there are provided according to the invention automatically operating bobbin changing devices, whose type is optional. Preferably types are used which are characterized in that the automatic bobbin changer is arranged between the textile machine and the bobbin transport device, which is movable in longitudinal direction of the machine. Bobbin changers of this type are known, for example, through German published application P 20 37 826.1. Bobbin changers of this construction offer the advantage that it is not necessary to provide each treatment station with a changing device of its own. Nevertheless a faster changing is possible, and during the changing process there is an operative connection between the particular run-off or take-up place and the depositing device allocated to it. For the local connection between the run-off bobbin or take-up place and depositing device, the automatic bobbin changer may have a chute for the conveyance of the bobbinsbetween the textile machine and the bobbin transport device, the chute having the same inclination as the line between the run-off bobbin or winding places and the devices allocated to them forthe reception of the bobbins.

In order to avoid the situation that the chute has to be set higher in operation for the individual decks and truding hooks forthe'reception of the finished bobbins.

If the bobbin holders of the winding bobbins are arranged in such a way that the bobbin axis does hot lie parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine, as, for

example, in the case of vertically standingspindles;

there can be provided in the chute deflecting elements by which the axes of the finished bobbins are aligned essentially parallel to the axes of the troughs, partial troughs or hooks.

The quality control of the finished bobbins deposited and transported on the bobbin transport device of the invention, and the identifying marking of their processing station can--as is conventional--be accomplished by hand at any point of the textile plant and can be associated expediently with a sorting operation or possibly the packing step. In order to do justice to the functions of preventive quality controls--as they have been described above--it is proposed according to the invention that the device be introduced into an automatic quality testing and sorting apparatus, which is provided with sensing and counting mechanisms or similar devices and printing mechanisms, over which the depositing place and the allocated processing stations of the finished bobbins are automatically detected and prefer ably expressed with the test result or otherwise rendered visible. Thereby it becomes possible to carry out the quality check with economy in labor, time and costs, and simultaneously to obtain data for the appraisal of the functioning of the processing stations. It is necessary for this merely to assign each bobbin trans port device of a certain textile machine an identification by a special general identification. If, however, one bobbin transport device is used alternatively for several textile machines a special characterization of the textile machines served in each case is necessary on the bobbin transport device. For this, for example, there can be a coding device mounted on the bobbin transport device. On this coding device there is set a signal allocated in each case to the particular textile machine. This can be accomplished by hand or, for example, by means of a signaller mounted on the textile machine, which contains a certain arrangement of switching cams for the switching of the signal allocated to the textile machine.

THE DRAWINGS In the following the invention is described with the aid of FIGS. 1 to 10, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa bobbin transport device and a bank of winding stations;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through FIG. 1, showing the transport device, textile machine.(in part) and the associated automatic bobbin changers;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, side elevation of the transport device;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, side elevation of another embodiment of a bobbin transport device;

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are schematic representations of a bobbin transport system with a bobbin transport device according to the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates diagrammatically a circuit for the automatic movement onward of the bobbin transport device;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective views of couplings for the bobbin transport device; and

FIG. 10 shows a schematic representation of a quality checking and sorting installation in combination with a bobbin transport device according to the invention.

The bobbin transport device 1 consists, in FIGS. 1 to 3, of several members or sections 6. The individual members are connected with one another by couplings 7. The couplings are operated by hand.

The bobbin transport device 1 contains partial troughs 2, into or onto which the finished bobbins 3 are deposited. The winding units 4 respectively are allocated to the troughs 2, which carry finished or nearly finished bobbins 3. The bobbins 3 are driven by drive rollers 13. The textile machine otherwise is represented merely by its longitudinal axis 5 (FIG. 1) or its segment 15 (FIGS. 2 and 3) and suction nozzles 22 for waste thread accumulation. The bobbin transport device, which in the embodiment shown in the drawings according to FIGS. 1 to 3, is a vertical lattice, runs with wheels 10 on rails 8 and 9, which are arranged at some distance from the textile machine on a support frame ll, 12 (FIG. 2). In textile machines with separate bobbin lattice for the run-off bobbins, such as is used for example preferably in texturizing machines and is represented in FIG. 5, the rails can be fastened advantageously to the run-off bobbin lattice. Between the textile machine 15 and the bobbin transport device 1 there is arranged an automatic bobbin changer 16 supported on rails 17 by wheels 18 and movable in longitudinal direction of the machine. The automatic bobbin changer can be arranged for the rhythmic operation of one or more vertical rows of winding units, i.e., for the removal of finished bobbins and for the setting on of empty tubes or else for random bobbin change. It brings about-insofar as the removal of the finished bobbins is concerned--via a lever system 21 the lifting off of the finished bobbins from their drive rollers 13 and the lateral movement of the bobbin holder 4. Thereby, the finished bobbins 3 slide onto the individual decks of the chutes 19, 20 and into the receiving devices, i.e., troughs or hooks 2. If, by way of exception, a manual operation of individual places of the textile machine should become necessary--for example in the event of thread breakage--the removed bobbins are deposited on or in special bobbin receiving devices, for example, onto a hanger attached to the transport device or in a container, such as shaft 24.

The automatic bobbin changer in technically modified form can be arranged for the rhythmic or random operation of the run-off positions, i.e., for the removal of the empty tubes and for the placement of feed bobbins. Advantageously a suspended movable bobbin transport device according to FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 is used.

In FIG. 3 there are represented a textile machine 15 with control and drive part 26, run-off bobbins 25 and winding positions 4 as well as a bobbin transport device 1. This bobbin transport device consists again of several members 6 and haspartial troughs or hooks 2 for the reception of bobbins 3. It is movable in suspension on wheels 10 riding on rails 8. Expediently the rails are lowered in the zone of the textile machine to the level of the winding positions or run-off bobbin positions. The rails 8 can, moreover, extend over all parts of the textile mechanism. For the drive of the bobbin transport device 1 there is a power drive 27, which consists of a directionally reversible electric motor 28, a gear and a battery 29 for current generation. There can also be provided, however, travelling wires for the current supply to the power drive.

The bobbin transport device according to FIG. 4 consists of a support beam 57 movable by means of the wheels 10 along a suspension rail 9, on which there are suspended the rods 2. The rods are provided with joints 56, by means of which they can be swung in the direction of the winding or run-off bobbin position assigned to them. The rods have differing length, depending on the elevation of the winding or run-off positions allocated to them. On the end of each rod there can be slipped a bobbin by means of suitable clamping devices. It is possible to angle off the rods in the lower zone, if this is necessary by reason of the interaction of the automatic bobbin changer with the textile machine.

In FIG. there is schematically represented a part of a machine room with textile machines 15, run-off bob bin latices 24 set up therebetween, an automatic bobbin changer displaceable between them for removing the finished bobbins, and a transport container 23 movable at the head of the textile machine and driven by means of a battery or other electric drive 30. The transport container 23 serves for the conveyance of the bobbin transport device 1 outside the zone of the machine. The textile machine 34 is one which has just bee tended. v

The automatic bobbin changer positioned in front of the machine has already taken off a part of the finished bobbins and deposited them on the bobbin transport device 1. It is also possible, however, to carry out the bobbin changing not in rhythm, but in random alternation. After the tending of machine 34 or one side of this machine, the automatic bobbin changer is driven over rails (not shown) in front of another machine face. The bobbin transport device 1 is now ready for the transportation. It can be moved onward either over the rail system 9 (only partly indicated), by hand, by means of a constantly operating endless chain or by means of a power drive, or otherwise within a transport container like transport container 23. The transport container 23 contains guide rails 31. It is positionable in such a way that the guide rails 31v are aligned parallel to'the rails 9. The bobbin transport device 1 can then be introduced member by member into, the transport container'.

After receiving a transport member, the transport container is moved onward by the spacing of the guide rails 31. Thereupon, the next transport member is thrust in. This process is automated. For this purpose the transport container has end switches 32 in the zone of each guide rail. The end switches are operated by each slide-in transport member. Each end switch is connected in a current circuit in such a way that through its actuation of the drive 30 of the transport container is set in operation. The drive is set out of operation again by means of a step switching mechanism, so that the transport container is moved onward only by a predetermined length.

The bobbin transport device 1 is moved onward, for example, by a friction wheel drive 33, which is stationarily fixed to the run-off lattice 24. This friction wheel drive is switched on and off by means of end switch 36. For this purpose, the end switch, depending on its construction type, is switched either directly into the circuit of the friction wheel drive 33 or else the end switch is operated--as schematically represented in FIG. 7--by a switching relay 37 interposed in the circuit. The 'end switch itself is operated by cams 35 (FIGS. 5 and 7) which are arranged on the transport container 23 in a row and spaced at the distance equal to the spacing of the guide rails 31.

In FIG. 6 there is shown a part of a machine room or textile plant with textile machines 15, an automatic bobbin changer 16.1 displaceable therebetween for equipping the textile machines with new feed bobbins and an automatic bobbin changer 16.2 for removal of the finished bobbins. The automatic bobbin changers are displaceable on a floor rail system and are also operable in front of the other textile machines 15.

The feed bobbins are taken from the bobbin transport device 1.2. The finished bobbins are deposited on the bobbin transport device 1.1. These bobbin transport devices are constructed, as shown in FIG. 4, and are displaceable in a suspension rail system 9 by means of' power drives 27.] and '27.2. Over the rail system 9 there is driven, on the one hand, the supply 63 i.e., the product entry, or the goods input control or-as shown in FIG. 6--a sorted interstorage 59 for textile machines 60.1 to 60.4 for the production of the feed bobbins and, on the other hand, the quality control 42 or other processing unit. It serves simultaneously for the transportation of a blowing or suction installation 61, such as are commercially available in many forms andare used for the removal of dust and fibers in textile machines. This arrangement permits a'fully automated operation of the entire machine room by remote control 62. 7

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show suitable couplings for connecting the individual members of the bobbin transport 7 device 1. These couplings release automaticallyin the automatic sliding in of the bobbin transport device or in the advancing of the transport container 23 (FIG. 5 The coupling according to FIG. 8, therefore, can absorb forces exclusively in the longitudinal direction of the bobbin transport device. When the member 6" is moved, in the viewing direction of FIG. 6, to the left or the'member 6' is moved to the right, the bolt 38 slides out of the coupling groove The coupling is opened and closed by means of a mariu'aloperation. The coupling 7, according to FIG." 9, snaps in place over a cross piece 40, but lies simultaneously with its flanks on a yoke 41. This yoke has a troughlike, depression, through which the coupling hook 7is lifted and unlatched ina lateral movement of themember 6 or 6".

In FIG. 10 there is a quality testing and sorting device 42. The transport container 23 with the bobbin transport device 1 can be driven up to this quality testing and sorting device. The members projecting from the transport container of the bobbin transport device 1 are conveyed by a friction wheel drive 44. There, a sensing and counting device 43 carries out a number of the individual depositing places according to row and deck and thereby contains, over lines 53, the drive:.44.

In the transportation onward of the bobbin transport 1 of the counting devices 43. Thereby all the finished bobbins or finished bobbins selected at random can be subjected to a quality control. Simultaneously, the result of the countingand-of the quality check is fed to a printing mechanism 46 and-there ejected, for example, in table 47 form. This table is nowavailable for the.

' functioning monitoring and function improvement 'of' the individual processing places as well as for monitor of the feed material. Moreover, the printer delivers in the rhythm of the counting mechanism 43 its information to a device 48, which serves for the. indentification of the individual bobbins. Through the device 48, for

example, adhesive strips with imprint of the count and of the' est result or other markings symbolizing the results of the quality control are applied to the individual finished bobbin. With further movement onward of the 1 I bobbin transport device the finished bobbins are concording to the invention lies in that it permits preparing the equipping of multiplace, multilevel textile machines with feed bobbins of a certain type before the run-off of the old feed bobbins in any desired place of thetextile plant in such a way that each feed bobbin is already allocated to a certain working station, It isfurther designed in an optimum manner for the technical requirements of automatic bobbin changing in multilevel, multiposition textile machines--and insofar as the changing .'of the finished bobbins is concerned--for the further processing of the removed finished bobbins, especially in the quality control, sorting and packing. I

A further advantage lies in that, in contrast to the conveyor belts frequently used, a bobbin transport device according to the invention can be used for the serving of a plurality of textile machines.

It is thought that the invention and its numerous attendent advantages willbe fully understood from the foregoing description, and it, is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the forms herein disclosed being preferred embodiments for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

To summarize, the inventionprovides a combination of a textile machine having bobbin winding stations positioned along a face therein in multi-level rows and spatially arranged in a predeterminedgeometric pattern, and 21 bobbin transport unit movable along said face for transportation from the winding stations of finished bobbins. The transportunit is characterized by a plurality of bobbinreceiving means for receiving respective finished.bobbinsdischarged from said stations and spatially agranged in the same geometric pattern as said first-mentioned patte-rn,'e.g., in a vertical lattice.

Preferably, the transport unit extends substantially the full length of the face of the textile machine. lts bobbin-receiving means may be trough members or projecting hooks. Alternatively, the transport unit may comprise a row of a series of vertically suspended rods with means on the free ends of said rods to receive finished bobbins placed thereon. The rods have different lengths to spatially position their free ends in accordance with said geometric pattern.

Movement of the transport unit preferably embodies rail means supporting said transport unit for movement along the machine face with locomotive means coupled to the transport unit for moving it along the rail means. The rail means may further have suspended thereon blowing and suction means for removal of textile fines.

Preferably, the transport unit comprises a longitudinal series of individual sections having coupling means releasably connecting respective sections together. The combination preferably also includes a transport container movable perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the textile machine across the front thereof with a plurality of means in said container for respectively receiving individual sections of said transport unit. The coupling means in such case preferably embodies means releasable by lateral movement of one of said sections relative to the next section and is capable. of absorbing only forces vectored substantially in the longitudinal direction of said unit.

The sectional transport unit-transport container combination drive provides means for moving said transport container stepwise across the front of said machine. A plurality of switch means are operatively connected to said drive means and are positioned in said-transport container for operation of respective switch means upon movement of a respective section into said transport container. The combination may utilize drive means, adjacent the textile machine, for moving said transport unit, e.g., a friction drive wheel acting on said transport unit. To further enhance the proper, means functioning of the combination, there bobbin-conveying provided switch means activated by contact means on the transport container to activate the bobbin-conveying units drive means when the transport container is at rest and to deactivate said drive means when said transport container is in motion.

The combination may further include bobbin changing means positioned between the face of the textile machine and the transport unit. The bobbin changing means .is mounted for movement along the machine face, e.g., on rails. The bobbin changer means preferably has a plurality of bobbinconveying chutes for guiding discharged, finished bobbins from their respective winding stations to the respective bobbinreceiving means of said transport unit, the chutes being arranged in a plurality of decks in the aforesaid geometric spatial pattern. The combination may further include means for conveying the transport unit with finished bobbins therein into means for performing one or more of sorting, testing and marking of the finished bobbins.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. The combination of a textile machine having bobbin winding stations positioned along a face thereof in multi-level rows and spatially arranged in a predetermined geometric pattern consisting of a lattice of several long, vertically spaced, horizontal rows and many vertical columns, and a bobbin transport unit movable along said face for transportation from the winding stations of wound bobbins, said transport unit being characterized by a longitudinal series of a plurality of longitudinally movable, longitudinally aligned, bobbinreceiving sections, each section being shorter in length than the length of said face, each section having a plurality of bobbin-receiving means for receiving respective finished bobbins doffed from said stations and the bobbin-receiving means being arranged in a geometric pattern of vertically spaced, horizontal rows of same number as in said rows of said lattice with a much smaller number of bobbin-receiving means in each section than the total number of said bobbin winding stations.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, said transport unit extending substantially the full length of said face of the machine.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 1, said bobbin-receiving means comprising trough members.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 3, the bobbin receiving means of each section being arranged in a geometric pattern consisting of a lattice of vertically spaced, horizontal rows of said trough means in the same number of rows as the rows of said firstmentioned lattice, and vertical columns of said trough members, which vertical columns are of a much lesser number than the number of vertical columns in said first-mentioned lattice.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 1, said bobbin-receiving means comprising projecting hooks.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 1, said transport unit comprising a row of a series of vertically suspended rods, means on the free ends of said rods to receive finished bobbins placed thereon, and said rods having different lengths spatially positioning their free ends in accordance with said geometric pattern.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 1, and rail means supporting said sections of said transport unit for moving along said face.

8. The combination as claimed in claim 7, and locomotive means coupled to said transport unit for moving it along said rail means.

9. The combination as claimed in claim 1, and coupling means releasably connecting respective sections together.

10. The combination of a textile machine having bobbin winding stations positioned along a face therein in multi-level rows and spatially arranged in a predetermined geometric pattern, a bobbin transport unit movable along said face for transportation from the winding stations of finished bobbins, said transport unit being characterized by a longitudinal series of individual sections. coupling means releasably coupling said sections together, each section having a plurality of bobbinreceiving means for receiving respective finished bobbins discharged from said stations, a transport container movable perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the machine across the front thereof, and a plurality of means in said container for respectively receiving individual sections of said transport unit.

11. The combination as claimed in claim 10, said coupling means including means releasable by lateral movement of one of said sections relative to the next section.

12. The combination as claimed in claim 10, said coupling means including means capable of absorbing only forces vectored substantially in the longitudinal direction of said unit.

13. The combination as claimed in claim 10, drive means for moving said transport container stepwise across the front of said machine, and a plurality of switch means operatively connected to said drive means and positioned in said transport container for operation of respective switch means upon movement of a respective section into said transport container.

14. The combination as claimed in claim 1, drive means for moving said transport unit and fixedly mounted adjacent the textile machine.

15. The combination as claimed in claim 14, said drive means embodying a friction drive wheel acting on said transport unit.

16. The combination of a textile machine having-bobbin winding stations positioned along a face therein in multi-level rows and spatially arranged in a predetermined geometric pattern, a bobbin transport unit movable along said face for transportation from the windin g stations of finished bobbins, said transport unit being characterized by a plurality of bobbin-receiving means for receiving respective. finished bobbins discharged from said stations, a transport container movable per pendicular to the longitudinal axis of the machine across the front thereof, a plurality of means in said container for respectively receiving individual sections of said transport unit, drive means fixedly mounted adjacent the textile machine for moving said transport unit, and switch means activated by means on said transport container to activate said drive means when said transport container is at rest and to deactivate said drive means when Said transport container is in motion.

17. The combination as claimed in claim 10, drive means for moving said transport unit and fixedly mounted adjacent the textile machine, said drive means embodying a friction drive wheel acting on said transport unit.

18. The combination as claimed in claim 1, and means for conveying the transport unit with finished bobbins therein into means for performing one-or more of sorting, testing and marking of the finished bobbins.

19. The combination as claimed in claim 1, the bobbin receiving means of each section being arranged in a geometric pattern consisting of a lattice of vertically spaced, horizontal rows in the same numberof-rows as the rows of said first-mentioned lattice and vertical .columns, which vertical columns are of a much lesser number than the number of vertical columns in such first-mentioned lattice.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATFNT NO. 3,895,725 DATED July 22, 1975 |N\/ ENTOR(S) Manfred Mayer Y It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In Column 10, Lines 16 and 17 delete To further enhance the proper, means functioning of the combination, there bobbin-conveying provided switch means activated..." and substitute To further enhance the proper, automated functioning of the combination, there is provided switch means activated.

Signal and Scaled this Eighteenth Day of January 1977 [SEAL] A ttes t:

RUTH C. MASON Arresting Officer C. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner oj'Parenls and Trademarks 

1. The combination of a textile machine having bobbin winding stations positioned along a face thereof in multi-level rows and spatially arranged in a predetermined geometric pattern consisting of a lattice of several long, vertically spaced, horizontal rows and many vertical columns, and a bobbin transport unit movable along said face for transportation from the winding stations of wound bobbins, said transport unit being characterized by a longitudinal series of a plurality of longitudinally movable, longitudinally aligned, bobbin-receiving sections, each section being shorter in length than the length of said face, each section having a plurality of bobbin-receiving means for receiving respective finished bobbins doffed from said stations and the bobbin-receiving means being arranged in a geometric pattern of vertically spaced, horizontal rows of same number as in said rows of said lattice with a much smaller number of bobbin-receiving means in each section than the total number of said bobbin winding stations.
 2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, said transport unit extending substantially the full length of said face of the machine.
 3. The combination as claimed in claim 1, said bobbin-receiving means comprising trough members.
 4. The combination as claimed in claim 3, the bobbin receiving means of each section being arranged in a geometric pattern consisting of a lattice of vertiCally spaced, horizontal rows of said trough means in the same number of rows as the rows of said first-mentioned lattice, and vertical columns of said trough members, which vertical columns are of a much lesser number than the number of vertical columns in said first-mentioned lattice.
 5. The combination as claimed in claim 1, said bobbin-receiving means comprising projecting hooks.
 6. The combination as claimed in claim 1, said transport unit comprising a row of a series of vertically suspended rods, means on the free ends of said rods to receive finished bobbins placed thereon, and said rods having different lengths spatially positioning their free ends in accordance with said geometric pattern.
 7. The combination as claimed in claim 1, and rail means supporting said sections of said transport unit for moving along said face.
 8. The combination as claimed in claim 7, and locomotive means coupled to said transport unit for moving it along said rail means.
 9. The combination as claimed in claim 1, and coupling means releasably connecting respective sections together.
 10. The combination of a textile machine having bobbin winding stations positioned along a face therein in multi-level rows and spatially arranged in a predetermined geometric pattern, a bobbin transport unit movable along said face for transportation from the winding stations of finished bobbins, said transport unit being characterized by a longitudinal series of individual sections, coupling means releasably coupling said sections together, each section having a plurality of bobbin-receiving means for receiving respective finished bobbins discharged from said stations, a transport container movable perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the machine across the front thereof, and a plurality of means in said container for respectively receiving individual sections of said transport unit.
 11. The combination as claimed in claim 10, said coupling means including means releasable by lateral movement of one of said sections relative to the next section.
 12. The combination as claimed in claim 10, said coupling means including means capable of absorbing only forces vectored substantially in the longitudinal direction of said unit.
 13. The combination as claimed in claim 10, drive means for moving said transport container stepwise across the front of said machine, and a plurality of switch means operatively connected to said drive means and positioned in said transport container for operation of respective switch means upon movement of a respective section into said transport container.
 14. The combination as claimed in claim 1, drive means for moving said transport unit and fixedly mounted adjacent the textile machine.
 15. The combination as claimed in claim 14, said drive means embodying a friction drive wheel acting on said transport unit.
 16. The combination of a textile machine having bobbin winding stations positioned along a face therein in multi-level rows and spatially arranged in a predetermined geometric pattern, a bobbin transport unit movable along said face for transportation from the winding stations of finished bobbins, said transport unit being characterized by a plurality of bobbin-receiving means for receiving respective finished bobbins discharged from said stations, a transport container movable perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the machine across the front thereof, a plurality of means in said container for respectively receiving individual sections of said transport unit, drive means fixedly mounted adjacent the textile machine for moving said transport unit, and switch means activated by means on said transport container to activate said drive means when said transport container is at rest and to deactivate said drive means when said transport container is in motion.
 17. The combination as claimed in claim 10, drive means for moving said transport unit and fixedly mounted adjacent the textile machine, said drive means emboDying a friction drive wheel acting on said transport unit.
 18. The combination as claimed in claim 1, and means for conveying the transport unit with finished bobbins therein into means for performing one or more of sorting, testing and marking of the finished bobbins.
 19. The combination as claimed in claim 1, the bobbin receiving means of each section being arranged in a geometric pattern consisting of a lattice of vertically spaced, horizontal rows in the same number of rows as the rows of said first-mentioned lattice and vertical columns, which vertical columns are of a much lesser number than the number of vertical columns in such first-mentioned lattice. 